Whether you’ve been reading the tech news blogs – or just saw an ad on our HP Shopping page, you’ve probably been asking yourself, “Why is HP selling Windows 7 PCs in a Windows 8 world?” The answer is dead simple: Choice. We like giving our customers the option to get the computer that’s right for them.

For those that want to get the most out of a Touchscreen and Windows 8.1, we’ve got you more than covered with a complete line of computers running the whole gamut from desktops and All-in-Ones to laptops, tablets and everything in-between.

We want people to be happy with our computers – whichever option they choose – BUT WE ARE NOT DROPPING WINDOWS 8.

Let me put this in perspective for you. All the fiveWindows 7 products we launched are available with Windows 8 as well. And in addition, we have severaldozen more laptops and desktops that we only offer with Windows 8.

Actually HP can't handle windows 8. There are so many problems with win 8, that normal use in win 8 causes problems with HP. I personally have experienced a lot. This is the reason they are going back to recommend win 7. Because they fail to handle win 8.

Hello. Thank you, HP, but you're too late. Instead of getting stuck with the Edsel of the computer world (Windows 8), I invested [a good deal of] money into an iMac all-in-one 21.5. Learning the Mac software was not too difficult, and the tech support at Apple is phenominal. This first year, I had one-on-one classes, as well as group classes. I do miss Windows XP Pro and was looking forward to Windows 7 version, as I had all the software (Quicken, Print Shop, games, and photography). I must say the PC version of Quicken (13) is far superior to Quicken Essentials, but I have Word and Office for Mac, as well as iBooks and a version of Kindle, so I did not loose anything in the change. Skpe is here, Facebook is here, and the graphics quality is beautiful. If I need any hands-on help, the whole thing is under 12 lbs (compared to my 10-year-old Asus tower, which was 50+ pounds. I am sorry that I couldn't wait to buy a PC laptop with windows 7, but at the time, I needed a computer, and only Windows 8 was available. I think I will stay with Apple, even with the downsides (software, games, etc.), since Apple help really does help. I was able to set up a router, an external hard drive, and super drive (external CD/DVD drive) and a wireless printer (HP 2750 - another story!)

Again, I'm sorry, but had you offered a proper laptop with Windows 7 from the beginning, that is what I would have purchased.

I bought my HP Envy from Best Buy in August. At the same time, I bought 3 years of Geek Squad Protection. In the last 27 weeks, I've had 54 calls for remote access repairs to the computer and have had it back to the store for repairs 4 times. They just called to say it's ready for me to pick up again.

Windows 8 , Office 365 and HP have problems. I'm not sure whether I have a lemon, or what, but I wish I'd never seen this computer and Windows 8. There are issues with my ISP that I can't get an answer about. My virus protection is kept up to date, I have paid mal ware protection, and regularly have security problems. Windows 8 has been removed and reinstalled numerous times and upgraded to 8.1, and still problems persist. I cannot use Outlook as my e-mail program because the computer or software duplicates any e-mail I try to send with attachments and puts multiple copies of the message in my sent files...Up to 67 copies of a 10MB message.... They tell me that all hardware is working properly. I've had an HP computer since the days of Commodore..And never had problems like this.

I financed the purchase with no interest for 18 months. I 'd like to think that at some point I could count on having a computer that spent more time with me than time with a repair technician.

It is good that HP listened to it's customers and realized 8 is garbage and 8.1 is yet more garbage. Now how about going back to the drawing board and re-writing these programs to be usable on currently owned computers, rather than trying to sell more hardware. Yes, I know, we are stupid. Also, make your keyboards less touchy so weird stuff doesn't pop up all the time. The tutorial about finger movements on the keyboard is a joke. I realize mal-ware and trojans are part of the problem with your internet use difficulties, but we are all spending money on prevention programs which should be going towards finding the morons who perpetrate these scams and criminal activity. I am looking at 10 search engines across the top of my screen, all apparently brought to me by "bing" - a great selling point, bing and ask.com = a joke. Microsoft = joke. When people quit laughing, even monster companies fail.

Let's be even clearer. PC sales are hurting across the board, and having Microsoft try to cram something customers hate down their throats isn't helping. HP is offering Windows 7 again because they'd like to sell more computers.

Wow, a number of people's hate for an OS is pretty clear. The vast majority of haters should really spend a bit of time with Windows 8/8.1. They should realize that you don't need to spend your time in Metro apps, and that Windows 8 is a much better version of Windows 7. Plenty of people I know who had negative opinions of Windows 8/8.1 because of the echo chamber the Tech Media can be, found that their preconceived notions where wrong.

This is a choice for consumers, yes. But the future of PC's are touch-input and mobile devices and the technology behind Windows 8 will power the future.

I don't think the idea that HP computers don't work with Windows 8 is valid. Here's my experience at home: two new HP laptops with Windows 8.1. One came with Windows 8.1. The other came with 8.0 and I upgraded. One desktop about a year old with Windows 8.1 (purchased with Windows 8.0, upgraded). No problems with any feature of the operating system or hardware. All the programs we use work including MS Office, OpenOffice, RosettaStone (Chinese & Spanish), LaParola (from www.laparola.it), Python 3.3 development kit, Firefox, Thunderbird, Skype (of course this one works), VideoLAN, Cyberlink, iTunes, QuickTime, Britannica (local storage version as well as online via web), Nook connection (standard Nook + HD), MySQL, Adobe Digital Editions, Calibre, Chrome, Turbotax 2013, as well as all the standard utilities.

I did decide to use Stardock ModernMix and Start8 on my laptop because I prefer resizable windowed software over the big visual button tablet approach.

I also upgraded an HP Small Form Factor DC7800 from Windows XP SP3 to Windows 8 and then 8.1. The upgrade went perfectly though it did take a long time to download. Every single hardware device worked except the wireless card from Netgear. There is no Windows 8 driver for the old wireless device. But the PC is close to the router so I just switched to old-fashioned cable for now. I did have to set NX on in the BIOS but that was relatively easy as the Windows 8 compatibility tester said I needed to do that. The lack of trouble with the upgrade was a pleasant surprise.

I can't say Windows 8.1 is flawless as the dual-headed OS is just plain odd. On the other hand it is easy for an old-fashioned user like me to use the older desktop option. I do prefer ModernMix over the standard tile/button approach. My kids just like 8.1 with the new style tiles.

The solution here for Microsoft is just to by Start8 and ModernMix from Stardock and make them setup options. It is surprising that Microsoft has not already done this.

Some of us Seniors (really senior) have issues learning new user interfaces. I am comfortable with Windows 7 on my work (yes, I still consult even waiting on the abyss) computer and my home HP. I am fine with it.

i'm sorry to say. many of the people who are complaining about windows 8 and 8.1 just don't want to progress, or are too lazy to learn a new interface. i use windows 7 on my desktop, windows 8.1 on my laptop (it came with 8 and had no issues upgrading {yes it is a hp laptop}), and android on my smartphone. i agree windows 8 has some quirks with learning the interface. i have to say windows 8 and 8.1 has some really easy to learn interface controls. windows 7 is actually rather complicated if you look at how many steps you have to do to do something that should be simple. windows xp was/is worse, i'm honestly glad to see them stopping support on it. just because something is familiar and it works, doesn't mean it doesn't need improvement or fixes (that's why there are updates and i do mean on all operating systems, not just windows). as for the whole mac vs windows debate.... well that's partly preferencial. though i can't say as i would enjoy paying over 3x the price for the same performance by getting a mac. true the mac has great customer support, but so does windows if you know where to get it. as for the multiple toolbars and search engines... QUIT DOWNLOADING STUFF WITHOUT READING WHAT IT IS!

The one and only reason HP decided to sell Win 7 again is to capture business lost to the herd of idiots that can't figure out or are too lazy to learn the differences of the far superior Windows 8 OS. A vast majority of sales and available options offered are Windows 8 machines as stated in the article. There will always be a percentage of users who can't keep up with the newer and better. HP is just doing whatever it takes to get their money too. At a premium cost even.

I have had HP Compaq computers since 83. I had one of the original Compaq laptops, affectionately called a “lugable”. I have used every version of DOS and Windows that has been put out. I want to borrow a phrase from Arnold Schwarzenegger.... Windows 8 is a girly man version of Windows. If you don't think that is true, then what do you call the apps in Windows 8? That's right, they are called charms. Girly Man.... They have eliminated virtual serial ports, so I can't use a USB to RS232 converter to talk to legacy equipment. I might as well use one of those Apple OS products.

I think there should be an operating system like Windows 8 for tablets, but not for laptops or desktops with perfectly good keyboards. Every time I move the mouse around, I get kicked into Windows 8 mode with its girly man blocks all over the screen. Lets don't even bring up that awful opening screen with the skyline of Seattle drawing that someones 5 year old came up with. In Windows 8 you can't even get rid of it unless you have Windows 8 Professional (that really is like Military Intelligence).

I know what you are thinking, I am old and I am resisting change, which is totally wrong. When they figure out how to connect my brain straight to the processor, I will be the first one to sign up to have the sensors and wires installed. Until then I want to use the fastest method for me to get my ideas to the screen, and the qwerty keyboard is still that device.

Since DOS 3 the odd releases of the OS have been the best, and the even releases have been buggy and not well planned out. Windows 8 and 8.1 both fall into that category. I updated my laptop to Windows 8.1 one weekend and when I got to work on Monday morning; I couldn't use any of the printers or scanners. I got hit with the old Apple ploy “It is time to replace that old equipment”. When is Windows 9 going to be out. I hope soon because there are dozens of versions of Linux that run just fine on the Intel and AMD machines. I actually wrote this comment in Open Office, and their text editor is as good as Word. So wakeup Microsoft.....

I just bought a new HP laptop that has Windows 8 and I hate it!! Luckily, there is an app you can click on which takes you to what looks like the old Windows 7. Believe me, I will be using that and not Windows 8! The thing I hate the most is in order to get out of a window, instead of just clicking on the X at the top right like in Windows 7, you have to go to the top left and find the hand and left click and drag the window down to the botom right (it gets smaller as you go) until it disappears! What a f**king hassle! It's not that I'm an idiot and can't figure out how to do it (as at least one person commented) Windows 8 is just so much more damn complicated!!